KASY-TV

KASY-TV
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Branding My50TV
Channels Digital: 45 (UHF)
Affiliations MyNetworkTV
Owner ACME Communications, Inc.
(ACME Television Licenses of New Mexico, LLC)
First air date October 6, 1995
Sister station(s) KWBQ
Former channel number(s) Analog:
50 (UHF, 1995-2009)
Former affiliations UPN (1995-1999)
The WB secondary (1995-1997)
independent (1999-2000)
UPN (2000-2006)
Transmitter power 245 kW
Height 1287 m
Facility ID 55049
Website www.my50.tv

KASY-TV is a television station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is an affiliate for the Fox Entertainment Group owned My Network TV television network, and broadcasts on digital channel 45 (virtual channel 50). The station offers general entertainment such as sitcoms, talk shows, reality shows, court shows, paid programming and first run shows from MyNetwork TV.

It is part of the first major television duopoly in Albuquerque. Its owner, ACME Communications, also owns KWBQ, a CW network affiliate. KASY is the only station owned by ACME Communications that is not a CW affiliate. ACME is the third company, after Capitol Broadcasting and Weigel Broadcasting, to own both CW and My Network TV affiliates in the same market.

History

KASY-TV signed on October 6, 1995. Owned by Ramar Communications, the station programmed a general entertainment format typical of most independent stations. They were managed by Lee Broadcasting, owners of KRQE-TV channel 13, Albuquerque's CBS affiliate.

Initially KASY 50 ran cartoons, old movies, talk shows, classic sitcoms, recent off network sitcoms as well as first run programming from both UPN and WB networks. This was easy to do at that time because neither network had more than a couple nights a week of programming. Then in Fall of 1997 WB shows were dropped and KASY would air only UPN programming which was its primary network. KWBQ signed on in March 1999 with a similar general entertainment format and took the WB affiliation. In June 1999 Acme TV bought KASY from Ramar Communications and terminated the Local Marketing Agreement with KRQE CBS 13 owned by Lee. Most of the programming inventory airing on KASY was also bought while some of the shows stayed with Lee to air on KRQE. Newscasts from KRQE had also aired on KASY until it was sold to ACME.

In the Fall of 1999 KASY dropped its UPN affiliation and broadcast movies and syndicated programming in place of UPN programs branding as "Superstation 50" after contract disputes between the network and the new owners ACME which was closely associated with the rival WB network. By February 2000 though UPN affiliation was reinstated. The station was then branded "UPN-50". As of September 5, 2006 KASY is an affiliate of MyNetwork TV. Along with the new network affiliation KASY was re-branded as "My50-TV".

Starting in March 2008, KASY-TV initiated the VJ element to the station. The "My50-TV VJ" would host the 6pm - 10pm weeknight block. The hosting job would consist of coming on the air approximately two to four times every hour to introduce shows, tease promotional events, and give out prizes. Jenny Marlowe was the first VJ at the station and at the time she started was also Miss New Mexico. Casey Messer became the station's 2nd VJ and took over the role April 2009. Britaña Campos, became the 3rd VJ, taking over the role in March 2010.

KASY-TV broadcast the Colorado Rockies baseball games during the 2008 baseball season.

Starting in the Fall of 2008, KASY-TV began broadcast several basketball games for The University of New Mexico Lobos. The contract was renewed for the 2009 and 2010 basketball season.

On April 30, 2008, KASY-TV broadcast their first program in true-HD. That program was a sitcom called Under One Roof, starring Flavor Flav.

It was announced on 4 June 2010, that ACME Communications would be entering into a Shared Services agreement with LIN TV in regards to the two TV stations in Albuquerque: KWBQ and KASY. This means some of the mutual operating costs as well as accounting departments could be shared to help reduce overall costs.

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